JU5-27: At The End Of The Day, Money Is A SPIRITUAL Issue

“Gil‘ad lives beyond the Yarden.
Dan — why does he stay by the ships?
Asher stayed by the shore of the sea,
remaining near its bays.”
-Judges 5:17

Next the focus shifts over to the Tribe of Dan.

Devorah asks…

“why do you stay by the ships?”

This implication is a scathing condemnation.

Because what Devorah is really saying is…

“Why the heck are you staying at your homes by the sea instead of getting off your butts to come fight at Mount Tabor alongside your brothers who are risking life and limb for the whole welfare of Israel?”

The Tribe of Dan was set up alongside the seacoast and they had access to a port at Joppa where many ships docked and loaded or unloaded their goods.

Unfortunately, Dan never really gained much control of their assigned territory.

Instead, they did the one thing they should NOT have done.

They formed an alliance with the Phoenicians, a gentile group who should have been booted out of the land.

The Phoenicians were formidable sea- and land-based traders with significant naval power.

So it’s understandable why Dan cowered and entered into a partnership with them.

At this time, although Dan was likely in the process of relocating up north, it didn’t matter.

Their allying with the Phoenicians would pose serious problems-both political and spiritual.

Politically speaking, Dan was in trouble because the Phoenicians were also allied with the Canaanites.

So if Dan helped their Hebrew brothers battle against the Canaanite allies of Phoenicia…well…I think you can see the problem here.

Spiritually speaking, Dan’s livelihood was dependent on their relationship with the Phoenicians.

Therefore, if they wanted to have enough food to feed their families, they had to maintain their relationship with the Phoenicians.

Or so they thought.

You may think this is an economic issue but really it’s a spiritual one.

Why?

Because who are you depending on for your economic welfare?

Is it God?

Or your job?

Or your boss?